Crider’s Hat Trick Lifts Chargers to 3rd Straight Win

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Sept. 11, 2013
GALESBURG—Lawson Crider netted a first-half hat trick as the Carl Sandburg College men’s soccer team beat Palmer 6-1 on Saturday at Kleine Equipment Field for the Chargers’ third straight victory.

After Palmer took a 1-0 lead on a penalty kick in the 13th minute, Crider opened Sandburg’s scoring in the 15th minute with a goal off a pass from Jake Kirchoff-Sleet. Carlos Viganoni found Crider in the 23rd minute to give Sandburg (4-2-0) a 3-0 advantage, and Crider took a pass from Martin Morales in the 34th minute for a 4-0 lead.

“Lawson Crider had his best game of the year so far. I think he is starting to hit his stride at the right time, and I only expect him to improve with more games like this as the year goes on,” Chargers coach Allen Eskridge said. “His best play of the game was not actually one of his goals. He made a perfect run away from the ball, directing the ball to be played into the space he just left for Jake, who picked it up in stride and had a great finish. That goal gave us the lead and changed the game.”

Jesse Bathelt assisted Kirchoff-Sleet on a goal in the 20th minute, and Bathelt’s goal in the 42nd minute from Connor Benson helped give the Chargers a 5-1 lead at halftime. Malcolm Findley converted a penalty kick in the 89th minute to close out the scoring.

“We had great performances from several individuals tonight, but we did not play our best as a team,” Eskridge said. “Still, we are glad for the win even on a down night. We finished some very good goals and would have held a shutout except for the penalty.”

The Chargers play back-to-back division road games this weekend, beginning at 2 p.m. Friday at Kennedy-King. Sandburg then takes on Truman at 3 p.m. Saturday.